Spalthoff right pick in Milford race

Published 3:34 pm, Monday, October 21, 2013

I'd like to publicly congratulate Milford mayoral candidate Peter Spalthoff on receiving the endorsement of Milford's largest union of city employees, Public Works Local 1566. Few know the "ins and outs" of what goes on in our city government better than the employees that help make our city services possible. Their endorsement holds particular weight given their expertise.

Mayors Richitelli and Lisman helped make Milford the crown jewel of the Connecticut Shoreline. Like Mr. Spalthoff, both men shared a commitment to an open and transparent government. In the past two years, Mayor Blake has been anything but transparent. Rather, he has been the king of good-ol'-boy, backroom deals.

After taking over the mayor's office, one of Mr. Blake's first decisions was to hire Pullman & Comley as bond counsel for the city of Milford, a law firm with deep ties to Governor Malloy, and whose attorneys donated $3,000 to Mr. Blake's campaign.

Next, he unilaterally tried to switch the city employee's health insurance carrier without consulting employee bargaining groups. After that, when asked point-blank whether he would move the city's animal shelter to Stratford, which is a well-known "kill shelter," he refused to answer directly.

He only stated, "It's not going to happen this year." No one knows where he stands on this issue.

Is there another backroom deal with the town of Stratford to be announced after Election Day?

Further, he stated that East Shore Middle School would become a "state-of-the-art" facility at a cost of only $12 million. Despite estimates that it would cost between $16 million and $18 million, he insisted on that $12 million figure. It has become a $22 million dollar financial disaster.

Finally, he has time and again used city money to pay for improvements to property owned by the state, including state roads and state sidewalks.

A politician's true performance can only be judged if he or she is transparent. Mr. Blake has refused to be transparent because of policies like the ones outlined above. Please consider whether this is the kind of mayor you want running your city. You won't have to wonder about your mayor is doing if Mr. Spalthoff is elected.